Hi all
Rather than paying carbon offset penalties for bird watching in Australia I think there is a better way to manage this. To encourage the complete enjoyment of our natural environment “the Government should ” be offering generous carbon subsidies, concessions and income tax deductions to provide incentives for people to take up passive nature based interests. Funded from the carbon tax, supplemented by the mining tax, and guaranteed by the goods and services tax, this great initiative would help defray the seriously escalating costs of birding in Australia and also generate much more appreciation of birds generally.
Birding has just become too expensive when you consider the spiraling costs of travel to attend pelagics, camp in National Parks, new cameras, binoculars, computers, smart phones, field guides, playback speakers, club subscriptions, access permits, alcohol and cigarettes etc. etc. not to mention the outrageous running costs of say a new V8 4WD Landcruiser to explore this great country of ours.
When you consider that fuel in some remoter areas is about $3 per litre even before the carbon tax is applied and to replace just one lousy tyre staked during a short off road jaunt to twitch a new bird can cost more than $300, it is little wonder that we bird watchers need Government $$$ help, not carbon penalties to help us thoroughly enjoy the natural environment and have some fun..
Ian May St Helens, Tasmania
John Harris wrote:
>Hope all you twitchers are paying to offset your carbon emissions from >your plane flights, otherwise it is not “harmless” as Greg puts it! > > > > >Yours in all things “green” > >Regards > >John Harris >Manager, Environment and Sustainability >Donvale Christian College >155 Tindals Rd Donvale 3111 >03 9844 2471 Ext 277 >03 9844 1102 Fax >0409 090 955 >john.harris@donvale.vic.edu.au > >President, Field Naturalists Club of Victoria (FNCV) >Past President, Victorian Association for Environmental Education >(VAEE) > > >>>>”Greg Little”
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